User Guide
• The tire’s speed rating is void if the tire is repaired, retread-
ed, damaged, abused, or otherwise altered from its original
condition. Thereafter, it should be treated as a non-speed
rated tire.
• Non-speed rated tires are usually for ordinary passenger car
or light truck service and not for high speed driving.
• For winter tires used in cold weather conditions, it is gen-
erally acceptable to apply a tire with a lower speed rating
than your original tires; however, speed should be reduced
accordingly. All winter tires should be the same speed rating.
Some vehicles have specic recommendations regarding
winter tire use; consult your vehicle owner’s manual and tire
information placard. See “Winter Tires” in this manual.
These speed ratings are based on standardized laboratory
tests under specic, controlled conditions. While these tests
may relate to performance on the road, real-world driving is
rarely identical to any test conditions. Your tire’s actual speed
capability may be less than its rated speed since it is affect-
ed by factors such as inflation pressure, load, tire condition
(including damage), wear, vehicle condition (including align-
ment), driving conditions, and duration at which the speed is
sustained. Use the following chart to compare the speed rat-
ings of tires. Remember: regardless of the tire’s speed rating,
drivers should obey speed limits and adjust their speed based
on trafc, weather, vehicle and road conditions.
The tire’s speed rating designation appears on the tire
side-wall with the tire size. Examples:
P275/40ZR17 max > 149 mph (240 km/h) ****
P275/40R17 93W max = 168 mph (270 km/h)
P275/40ZR17 93W max = 168 mph (270 km/h)
P275/40ZR17 93Y max = 186 mph (300 km/h)
P275/40ZR17 93(Y) max > 186 mph (300 km/h) ****
* In standardized laboratory tests that relate to highway
speeds. Actual tire speed and performance capability
Speed
Symbol
Speed Category*
mph km/h
M 81 130
Q 99 160
R 106 170
S 112 180
T 118 190
U 124 200
H 130 210
V 149 240
Z** >149 >240
W 168 270
Y 186 300
(Y)*** >186 >300
18
22